God-Touched

Quality Time

In which Sanura and Alejandro spend some quality time together

STThough the groaning and creaking of trees and various animal noises suffuse the night air, it’s far more quiet than the constant white noise of the city. It’s like a blanket of darkness has fallen over the forest. You’re in the car parked right next to Alejandro’s black Lexus RX Hybrid. The lights are off but the engines are humming. Crook sits in the front seat, head up, eyes wide, absolutely still but for his ears which twitch this way and that.

SanuraSanura grips the stearing wheel, frowning as she looks into the darkness and listens for signs of what’s going on down at the Padre’s place. “Do you think this will work?” she questions of the feline. Glancing over and noticing his alert posture she narrows her eyes and tries to extend her own senses to relay more information to her brain.

STWe should be out there, making it work. Crook’s tail thumps once against the seat. There are rodents out. I can hear them. It’s making me hungry.

SanuraSighing softly. “What exactly would I do out there? Besides look utterly out of place and suspicious?” she questions as she reaches over and opens his door. “go ahead and hunt, just don’t stray to far..”

STCrook turns to you briefly, his ears at full forward tilt. You are of the Holy Blood. You don’t need to explain your presence anywhere to anyone. With that he hops out of the vehicle and stalks off into the dark.

SanuraShe snorts to that and as Crook exits the vehicle she does as well. Walking back towards the other vehicle silently she seeks a second less biased opinion. She halts by the drivers door and waits for him to roll the window down. “Should I be down there?” she questions “Crook seems to think so..” she murmurs quietly.

STDue to the lack of light in the deep dark of the forest, you have to feel your way around the car. You find the window already rolled down. “Careful,” Alejandro whispers before you ask your question. He pauses in consideration before saying, “If you wanted to be down there, why didn’t you say anything?”

SanuraSanura shakes her head a bit. “not so sure I’d want to be down there, but more like I don’t know how I’d be of any help anyway.” shrugging her shoulders as she keeps her voice low. “The only way I thought to help was to help with the get away when need be.” she leans on the side of the door and glances towards the action.

ST“Don’t you deal with children all the time at the museum?”

SanuraSmirks faintly “only to scold them for trying to go under the ropes or touching things they aught not.” chuckling. “I might scare them into compliance but I think Malif will do far better cajoling them.”

ST“Still, always good to have a backup. Fifteen children is a lot to keep track of.”

SanuraShe bites the inside of her lip considering that. “What might I tell them to gain entrence at this point though..” she purses her lips then “maybe I got lost in the woods.. but no.. I’m hardly dressed for such..”

STAlejandro falls silent for a moment. “Do you smell that?”

SanuraSanura paused and tilted her head a little, sniffing at the air.

STYou scent nothing except the occasional whiff of leaves and mulch.

SanuraShe gives a faint shake of her head and regards him, whispering “what do you smell?” turning her back to the door to peer into the darkness.

STAlejandro puts a hand on your arm, signaling you to be quiet. He gently urges you aside and opens his door, leaving the car running as he exits it.

SanuraShe’s silent and shifts to the side to let him escape the car. She’d move to follow him as silently as she might.

ST(( Join the Rolz room and roll Dex + Stealth ))

Sanura[4sucs]

STYour steps barely even crunch the dead leaves on the forest floor. It’s difficult to follow Alejandro though, as he seems to slide quickly and with ease through the darkness. In fact, he would’ve seemed to disappear entirely if he hadn’t finally murmured after a long, tense silence, “Hmm. It’s gone now.”

SanuraSanura frowns a little “what exactly was it?” her voice a quiet whisper as she moves to stand along side. “And what’s with you.. did you get a dogs sense of smell or something?” her tone curious as she glances back towards teh vehicles.

ST“Not a forest smell,” he whispers. “I only caught a quick whiff.” He pauses briefly before responding to the last question. “Not quite.”

SanuraShe tilts her head. “So if not quite that then what? You’re not very forthcoming you know” apparently a touch annoyed by that.

ST(( Roll Per + Awareness, at, say, -3 dice because it’s dark ))

Sanura[XD 0]

ST(( Hehe. ))

ST“Down!” hisses Alejandro. Before you can react, you find yourself knocked to the ground. Quickly Alejandro scrambles off you. “Nngh. Tranqs,” he murmurs. Then you hear him whisper, “More are coming. Get behind my car.”

SanuraSanura manages not to make a sound aside from a muffled unf when she’s knocked down. Getting to her feet quick as she’s able she moves over the leafy ground and makes for the vehicle as quickly as she can, her eyes and ears searching for the sounds of those attacking. She whispers harshly “Crook?” hoping he hadn’t been captured or drugged, who knew what a human size dose would do to a cat!?

STAgain silence falls, this time strung tight with tension. Alejandro didn’t seem to have followed you, but nor did you hear him collapse as if he was tranq’d.

ST(( If you want to try to hear anything, it’ll be the same roll as before. ))

Sanura[XD same result]

SanuraShe crouches down trying to hide from who ever was on the prowel.

STYour hands slam into something very hard covered in a fine modern cloth weave, eliciting a grunt from your unseen attacker.

ST(( Opponent’s turn ))

STDespite being put off balance, you’re still able to respond to the alarms going off in your head. You hear a crash and tinkle to your right, accompanied by swearing. Suddenly the car alarm blares and the rear lights flash, revealing to you a man in combat gear and nightvision goggles, who reels back and brings his hands instinctively to his eyes as the lights saturate his goggles and blind him.

ST(( Your turn! ))

ST(( Penalty to his DV due to being blinded. ))

SanuraTaking the opportunity Sanura reaches out, grabs the guy by his upper arms and proceeds to try and drive his scrotum into his throat via a swift upward motion of her knee.

ST(( Dex + Brawl ))

Sanura[just 1]

ST(( Str + 3 + 1 ))

Sanura[4 btw XD]

STThe man wheezes out a pathetic little groan as your knee goes full-force into his groin. He collapses to the ground.

ST(( That makes him prone, and it’s your turn again. ))

SanuraSanura makes a break for the car, her aim getting her bag and whip, either for defence, or if the guy is still down to tie him up like a calf at a rodeo.

ST(( You’ve got Epic Dex 3. It shouldn’t take any time at all to get to the car and come right back out. You can tie him up before he recovers. ))

SanuraReturning quick as she can she uses whatever is at her disposal to truss him up, if nothing else her whip and the strap of her bag would have to do.

STBefore long the man’s securely tied up, continuing to groan. The alarm’s still blaring and the lights are still flashing.

SanuraShe dives into the car and tries to turn that off before more of the guards or whomever are drawn. She’d look down at the guard and then around for Alejandro, she needed help getting him into the ruddy car. She makes a solid attempt at dragging him on her own.

STAs you return to the trussed-up fellow, you see Crook sitting on his chest, turned away from the man’s face. It seems he’s made himself at home.

SanuraShe snorts softly “what are you doing? we’ve got to get him in the car and get well away from here… maybe on the other side of the building.. I don’t know.. maybe I can text the others about the move but we can’t stay here. Have you seen Alejandro?” her brow furrowing as she looks around worriedly.

STCrook slowly closes his eyes. I’m just ensuring this mortal doesn’t try to get up. The golden hieroglyphics are still clearly visible in the dark, almost like a beacon.

SanuraShe grimaces “Ok great.. well hop off for now I’ve got to try and get him into the car” she mutters, grabbing the guy by his shirt or whatever and trying to drag him towards the car, or Alejandro’s car.. whichever is closest actually. “Did you set off the alarm?” she questions as she grunts with effort.

STCrook hops off the man and flicks his tail, clearly annoyed. I would never do such a thing! It’s offensive to my ears and scares off all the prey.

SanuraRolls her eyes at the feline and glances to him. “Do you hear anyone else out there? friend or foe?” making some headway with the movement of the prisoner, attemtping to tumble him into the vehicle. ]unless he weighs more than she can carry.. wich I -think is 200, counting strength and ath]

ST(( You can drag him, no worries. ))

STCrook saunters away into the darkness. No. The golden symbol seems to float from and over nothing.

SanuraSighing she manages to get the downed guard into the back of the car and then she texts Alejandro. “Are you alright?!?!?!” [pretty sure we all put our phones on silent right?]

ST(( That’s a safe assumption. There’s no service out here, though. ))

Sanura[ah crud]

STA hand clasps your shoulder.

SanuraSanura turns swinging, still managing not to scream or squeak.

STYour hands swing through empty air. “It’s… it’s me,” you hear Alejandro murmur. His voice is low and his speech slow, as if he struggling with his words.

SanuraSanura heaves a great sigh. “For the love of …” she blinks as she immediately reaches to bolster him up. “What happened.. are you hurt or.. did you get hit with a dart?!” She silently curses as she’d try and help him into the passenger seat. “We should get out of here.. go.. around the other side maybe.. I don’t know.. but there might be more guards patrolling..”

ST“Not hurt… dart, but powerful… stuff… horse tranqs, I think…” He gently pushes you away and staggers aside. You get a waft of what smells like copper. “I… can drive. And I’m not… not just saying that.”

SanuraSanura frowns. “Forget that.. passenger seat or I’ll set Crook on you.. .. do you have a first aid kit?” she’d attempt to stear him to the passenger seat again. She’d reach for his ear like a naughty child if he attempted to try and get in the drivers side.

ST“Gods… damn it all…” he growls. But it’s clear that he’s not up for an argument. He heads to the passenger side of the car. “Glove compartment… Nothing for… for horse tranqs, though,” he says.

SanuraShe hmphs softly. “So that smell isn’t your blood then?” she questions before shutting the door and rounding the other side. “Crook, we’re going come on” she calls out as loud as she dares before climbing into the drivers side and giving Crook a moment to join them and then pulling out onto the dirt path.

ST“No… not… not mine,” he says. Crook hops into the car atop Alejandro’s lap just before he shuts the door.

SanuraSanura nods, feeling a touch better though the tranqs effect worries her. “Hospital?” she questions. "If not then.. we’re going to go around the other side of the building and hope one of our group catches on.

ST“No!” Alejandro takes a deep breath. “No. It’ll wear off… eventually.” He shakes his head a little in an attempt to make himself more alert. “We need to stay here… so the children can… can get away…”

SanuraSanura bites her lower lip. “okok.. but..right here.. I mean… they know where we are don’t they now?” she glances back at their prisoner, double checking that he’s still secured.

Sanura“Be still .. what are you doing with the children?” she doesn’t use any ichor infused order but her tone is firm and cold.

ST“We can move… I’ll… come back here… take them to our new… parking spot.” Alejandro growls in frustration and spits out a foreign word under his breath with such vehemence that it could only be a cuss.

ST“Fuck you, lady, I’m not saying a word!” He grunts and growls and thrashes about in the seat, trying to wriggle free.

SanuraSanura nods her head to Alejandro, this was not going well at all. She grips the stearing wheel tightly. She grits her teeth. “Tell me all you know about this place, the children, those who run it and their plans, the utter truth!” this time the chill in her voice holds a glacier edge of an ichor infused command. [overt order]

ST“This is all due to the Order of Divine Glory!” He shouts back. His teeth audibly clack shut as he forcibly closes his mouth. (( Only lasts for one action. ))

Sanura[damn] still.. that’s something. ] She frowns. “Oh yeah kidnapping kids.. really Divine” she taunts over her shoulder as she carefully navigates the dark woods. “You’re probably just another dupe” she mutters this last.

STThere’s no response from the hog-tied fellow. Alejandro presses his palms against his temples and growls once more. “Can’t… fucking… think straight.”

SanuraSanura looks over at Alejandro a moment before her gaze goes back to the road. “try focusing on something solid.. something you can’t confuse.. your daughter.. think of her..” she tries to help, not knowing what else to do for him that time cannot. Her tone turning cool and mocking once again. “Don’t be as muddle headed as these fools of the Pedo Padre.” trying to irk the man into another outburst, maybe into something more being reveiled.

ST“RRRGGH!” Alejandro slams a hand against the dash and twists to face the back seat, knocking Crook off his lap. He reaches to shake their prisoner. “Dead,” Alejandro mumbles.

SanuraHer eyes widen “What.. what do you mean dead?!” Her foot pressing the brake as she turns her attention to the drugged Alejandro. “What do you mean!?” she demands again a note of fear in her voice.

STHe slides forward almost drunkenly as she brings the car to a stop. Crook darts into the back before he can be crushed. “Dead… Look.” Alejandro turns the light on in the car and turns towards the back seat pointedly.

SanuraShe blinks and looks over her shoulder. “How the hell?” she smacks the stearing wheel. “a damn spy suicide capsule or something?” she “Where is Mike waiting.. maybe he can do something about this.. interigate the ghost.. I didn’t kick him that hard.” She starts the car again.

STIndeed, the man’s skin is discolored. There’s no sign of any other trauma. “Nngh,” offers Alejandro helpfully as he turns back and leans into his seat. He sluggishly turns the light off.

SanuraShe shakes her head and drives the long way round, trying to find Mike, as far as she thinks he’s the only one that might get more out of this guy now.. even with the.. being dead.

ST“Don’t!” he exclaims as you drive closer to the compound. “We… need to park… not jeopardize… escape. In case… in case things go wrong.”

SanuraFrowning she turns off and pulls further away, hopefully well out of sight of the guards and such. “Well.. what do we do with him?” she questions as she turns off all the lights and lets the engine idle.

STAlejandro rubs his brow in concentration. “I can’t… just… so hard to think…”

SanuraShe reaches over and grabs him by the chin. “think harder.. you’ve brought me into this and I dont’ have a damn clue, you’ve got to have an idea” Staring into his heavy lidded drugged eyes, trying to force him to focus. “What. must. we. do?”

STHis face contorts in a snarl of rage and frustration, his eyes flashing dangerously. “DON’T YOUTHINK I’M TRYING!?” His voice fills the car like a jaguar’s roar. Alejandro pulls away from you and turns quickly, his hands balling up into fists. “Dump the body,” he says.“We need more space… For the children.”

SanuraSanura nods “There you can do it if you try!” she takes a breath and climbs out of the car to push the guy out of the back, taking her stuff back of course. She returns to the car and drives a bit away, there was no reason to stay near the body, to scare the children. “Breath deeply, try and get your blood flowing faster, your body cleaning it or something” she suggests with a simple guess.

STAlejandro interlocks his hands behind his head and shuts his eyes tightly in concentration. He takes several deep breaths.

SanuraMean while Sanura climbs out, her whip in hand this time, her senses on highest alert. Alejandro was in no shape to save her from a tranq this time.